Police dismantle tobacco smuggling gang, seize 1.2m cigarettes

The Portuguese police said they have arrested the leader of a tobacco smuggling gang and seized 1.2 million cigarettes in Porto and Aveiro, both in the north of Portugal.

The leader of the gang has been charged with criminal association and qualified tobacco smuggling.

On Thursday the police seized 130,000 cigarettes and 226 kg of tobacco plus two vehicles. Most of the tobacco has hidden in false compartments in the vehicles that had been specially made to hide the contraband.

The police also said that a total of 10 individuals and two companies had been charged in connection with the smuggling.